‘Something for everyone’ at boomer expo

Since its debut in 2003, more than 15,000 boomers, seniors and family caregivers have attended the Boomer, Senior & Caregiver Expo. This year's Expo will be held Wednesday, Aug. 28, from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at the Dennis A. Wicker Civic Center.

SANFORD —

A week from today, people of all ages — particularly older adults — are invited to take advantage of free health screenings and financial seminars, peruse vendor booths, socialize and meet new friends at the Dennis A. Wicker Civic Center in Sanford.

The 11th annual Boomer, Senior and Caregiver Expo starts at 9:45 a.m. with a small ceremony followed by seminars on topics such as financial management, living wills and computer literacy. Afterward, people can go get health and dental screenings while also doing a little chatting, shopping and learning. The expo wraps up at 2:30 p.m. with prize drawings.

“Everything’s free — screenings, admission, parking, everything,” said Melanie Rodgers, an administrative and marketing specialist with the Enrichment Center of Lee County, which is putting on the event.

Judi Womack, the expo coordinator, said she believes the event is a great form of outreach for people in the area, and that she’s happy to have seen it become one of the largest events in Lee County.

“I think that the sponsors or vendors enjoy it just as much as the participants,” Womack said. “And the participants enjoy it because there’s something there for everyone.”

The expo is one of the biggest single-day events in Lee County; organizers estimated a crowd of nearly 3,000 last year, and both Womack and Rodgers said they’re expecting a crowd as big, or hopefully bigger, next Wednesday, Aug. 28.

Approximately 100 vendors will be there as well, Rodgers said — most of them regulars at the show. But there will be some new ones, including the Outreach Dental Semi Program, which she said is exactly what it sounds like.

“It’s a huge truck,” Rodgers said. “It’s a semi. It’s a dental service that’ll be out front, and we’re excited to have them because they’ll be having screenings for anyone who wants one.”

In addition to the free dental checkups and seminars, medical professionals will be offering a variety of free health screenings as well. Participants will also have access to healthy recipes, and food for sampling, as well as a hodge-podge of beauty and spa services.

“The educational seminars are great because you’ve got professionals in their fields doing the presenting,” Womack said. “And then you’ve got the health professionals doing the screenings, so if people are raising flags, they can get them in touch with a physician.”

More details about the expo are at leecountync.gov/Departments/SeniorServices.aspx, and a PDF of the full schedule can be downloaded at bit.ly/13P32XJ.